Slab cutting and separating machine.



F. H. MERRELL L W. K. BLACKBURN. SLAB CUTTING AND 'SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29,1913.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

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@MOM/y@ In: Anni-US PEYEAYS cc., PHurcYL/YHQ, WASHINGTON, D C.

I'. H. MERRELL & W. K. BLACKBURN. SLAB CUTTING AND SBPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29, 1913.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. H. MERRELL & W. K. BLACKBURN. SLAB CUTTING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29, 1913. v 1,108,204. Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' f) @a l 6%//Q///Lf%/ /w/ #1F ,N0/PRIS PETERS 6o.v PNOTDVIJTHO wASmNumN. u

F. H, MERRELL & W. K. BLACKBURN.

SLAB CUTTING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED Amig, 191s.

1 1 08,204, Patented Aug. 25, 1914 l0 SHEBTSHSHEBT 4.

Illllllllllllllllllllllllll @7W/vx @@@f I 7HE MORRIS PETERS :.u PHOTO LlTHo., WASHING YUN. u. C.

P. H. MERRELL & W. K. BLACKBURN. SLAB CUTTING AND SBPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APILZQ, 1913.

1,108,204. Patented Aug. 25, 1914 10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

'Hg AORRIS PETERS Co.. PHnrO'LITHO., WASHINGTON, D. C.

F. H. MERRELL & W. K. BLACKBURN.

SLAB CUTTING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29,1913.

l 1 08,204h Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

l() 10 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

THE NORRIS PETERS co PHOTO-Livio., WASHINGTDN4 DA C.

P. H. MERRELL & W. K. BLACKBURN. SLAB GUT'MNG AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29,1913.

1,108,204. Patented Aug.25,1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

/ f @y1/gy) go@ @D 17g/721% ruf: NoRRls PF rrws co PHn m 1.11m, WASHINW'UN. D l I F. H. MERRELL & W. K. BLACKBURN.

SLAB CUTTING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLGATION'FILED APR.29,1913.

1, 108,204. Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8'.

SEJQL.

F. H. MERRELL & W. K. BLACKBURN.

SLAB CUTTING AND SBPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Amma, 1913.

1,108,204. Patented Aug.25,1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

@Mom/s eye( P. H. MERRELL-6a W. K. BLACKBURN. SLAB CUTTING AND SEPARATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.29, 1913.

1,1 08,204. Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEBT 10.

. IIIIIIIHIIIIIIII "lu/mlm l UNITED -srAfrEs rA'rENir OFFICE.

FREDERICK H. MERRELL AND VIILLIAM K. BLACKBURN,

or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,

ASSIGNORS TO PACKAGE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SLAB CUTTING `ANI) sEPAEA'riNG MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern: y

Be it known that we, FREDERICK H. MER- RELL and WILLIAM K. BLACKBURN, both citizens of the United Sta-tes, and residents of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slab Cuttingand Separating Machines; and we do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof. Y

The-primary object of our invention -is to provide an accurate, economical, speedy automatic machine-,for cutting slabs ofpredetermined dimensions into rows of bricks or cubes of equal dimensions or weights and rfor individually separating such cubes and delivering the sameone by one to a receiver, which receiver, as expressed diagrammatically in the drawings, may constitute part of a wrapping machine of that generaltype such, for example,` as disclosed in patents issued to J. M; Patterson for improvements in wrapping machines, No. stesse, Oct. 29, 1907, and 874620, Dec. 24, 1907, it being understood that the slabs of material to be worked upon may be any soft pliable material such as butter, soap, frozen dainties, or the like.

Specific objects of. our invention are to provide an alined series of fixedV cutting members for separating the slab into a row of cubes; to provide a positively movable follower strip for feeding the slabs to a line of cutters; to provide a positively movable spotter-foot arranged at a right angle to the follower strip that co-acts with a fixed gagestrip at the opposite end of said followerstrip, whereby a slab is alined with the cutters and fed thereto for separation into a row of cubes; to provide a longitudinally arranged cube-receiving tray section for the row of cubes beyond the line of the cutters; to proivde'a pair of longitudinally disposed intermittently movable feeder-hands for delivering the row of cubes to a separator; to provide a reciprocative receiver into which theseparator delivers the cubes; to provide an .endless carrier connection between the feeder-hands; to provide acam-controlled means for 'shifting the feeder-hands from a workingto an idle position after a complete feed movement,whereby the previous idle hand is brought into working position in alinementwith the first cutting member Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Apr129, 1913. Serial No. 764,412.

^ row of cubes in its path of travel; to

.feeder-hands intermittently or Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

of the series co-incident to the delivery of a provide acam-controlled rack-bar for moving` the step by step member; t0 the feederin alinementwith each cutting provide means for adjusting hands, whereby the capacity of the machine may be varied, together with means for varying the ratio of the gearing in proportion to said capacity; to provide a cam-con- ,trolled' separator together with a presserfoot,l whereby the forward brick or cube is broken away from the held succeeding brick, the separated brickfbeing delivered to the receiver;l to provide .gear connection between the receiver and driving gearof the cutting and` separating machine whereby the cubes arecut, separated and delivered one by one to a wrapping machine in timed relation to its operation, and to provide means for locking and releasing the feederhand shift mechanism. y`

Vith the above and other minor objects in view the invention consists in certain peculiarities ofconstruction and combination of parts as hereinafter set'forth with refer- `ence to the accompanying illustrations and subsequently claimed. I

In the drawings Figure l represents a side elevation of a cutting and separating machine embodying the features of our invention with parts broken away and parts in section to ,more clearly illustrate certain structural features, the reciprocative receiver arm of a wrapping machine being shown in connection with the cutting machine in its position of ldelivery to said wrapping machine; Fig. 2, an end elevation of the machine; Fig. 3, a-plan view of the same partly in section as indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4, a sectional plan view illustrating .particularly the gear mechanism, the section being indicated by line 4 4 o f Fig. l; Fig.,5, a detailed fragmentary elevation of the feeder-hand trip mechanism upon an enlarged scale; Fig. 6, asimilar vievvpofV said mechanism showing the parts in their shifted position; Fig. 7, a detailed sectional plan view of said feeder-hand shift mechanism, the section being indicated by `lines Z4? of Figs. 2 and 5; Fig. 8, a longitudinal sectional view of the same,` the section being indicated by lines 8-8 of Figs. 8 and 5;

A Fig. 9, a detailed transversel sectional view through aportion of the table and its receiving tray section at the discharge end thereof, said view also illustrating the feeder-hand runway mechanism, the section being indicated by line 9 9 of Fig. 3; Fig. 10, an enlarged detailed longitudinal section view through the receiving tray at its discharge end and separator, the section being indicated by line 10-10 of Fig. 3; Fig. 10a, a detail plan section view of the separator; Fig. 11, a detailed sectional view through the separator' and receiving tray showing the same in a cube-breaking position; Fig. 12, a diagrammatic view of the separator and cube receiver, which receiver constitutes part of a wrapping machine mechanism as shown, the said wrapping machine mechanism being in gear connection with the cutting and separating machine;

Fig. 12, a detailed cross-section of the wrapping machine plunger taken on line 12a- 12a of Fig. 12; Fig. 13 represents an enlarged detailed sectional view of one of the feeder-hands and its carrying mechanism, together with a portion of the receiving tray, the section being indicated by linev 13--13 of Fig. 15; Fig. 1li, a detailed side elevation of the same with portions broken away showing the rack-bar and pawl engaging means with the shoe; Fig. 15, an inverted sectional plan view of the feederhand mechanism, the section being indicated by line 15 15 of Fig. 13; Fig. 16, a detailed sectional view through the ears of the shoe 14 showing the means for adjustably connecting the shoe to the belt, the section being indicated by line 16-16 of Fig. 13; Fig. 17, a sectional view through the ears of the shoe 11 illustrating the means for connecting one of the belt ends thereto; Fig. 18, a detailed sectional'view of 4a spotterfoot mechanism, and Fig. 19, a sectional elevation upon an enlarged scale of a transmission gear mechanism employed for varying the speed of the machine.

Referring by characters to the drawings 1 represents the corner legs and 2, 3, upper and lower integral. conecting vbars respectively, of a supporting frame, which frame is also provided with lower transverse struts 1 and an upper bed-.plate 5 that is suitably secured to the legs. The 'bed-plate 5 carries a table 6 having a slightly depressed longitudinally disposed receiving tray section 7 at its discharge edge. Standards 8 project upwardly from the bed-'plate for the support of an overhead bridge-bar 9, to which bar and the bed are secured an alined series of wire strand cutting members 10 that are longitudinally arranged parallel to the discharge edge of the table at its junction with the tray section thereof, the said cutting members being set at lequal distances apart, the first of which series 10 constitutes a trimmer.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the table carries a longitudinally disposed slidable follower strip 11 that is providedwith a series of lrerfs in its working face for the admission of the cutting members whereby said follower strip, when moved forward to its limit, will effect a complete cutting operation through a slab of material carried thereby. One edge of the follower strip is arranged in slidable engagement with a gage-strip 12 that is transversely secured to an edge of the table, there being a reciprocative spotter-foot 13 mounted adjacent to the opposite edge of the table clear of the path of travel of the follower strip which is automatically moved forward slightly in advance of the follower strip movement whereby a rectangular slab of material of predetermined area is adjusted in position against the gage strip 12 to thus aline the slab in its proper cutting position relative to the line of cutting members. Forward movement of the vfollower strip will thus sever the entire slab into separate cubes as it is forced between and through the cutting members. After the slab is so divided into cubes of predetermined area or weight they are deposited upon the receiving tray section 7 and the entire row of cubes are thereafter fed transversely toward the discharge end of the receiving tray intermittently or step by step a distance equal `to the width of a cube unit at each feed movement. r1`his feed of the line of cubes is accomplished by one of a. pair of feeder-hands 111, which feeder-hands engage the outer face of the rear cube and push the entire series or row forwardly upon the tray, the feeder-hand being initially positioned in alinement with the first cutting member 10 of the series, the said cutting members, as previously stated, constituting a trimmer, whereby the spotter foot vengaged end of the slab is trued. he feeder-hands 1-1- extend from individual shoes 141-', 111, that are slidably mounted upon a longitudinally disposed double runway, the same being composed of parallel rails 15, which rails are connected at their ends and carried by furcated heads 16, 16. The heads have projecting spindles 17, 17 respectively, which spindles are journaled in boxes that are carried by brackets 1S, the same extending upwardly from the opposite ends of the machine frame. Jonrnaled between the furcated members of each head is a flanged wheel 19 for the reception and support of an endless belt carrier 2O that is preferably in the form of a metallic tape. The feeder hand shoe 1st forms a connecting link between the tape ends of one stretch of the belt, the said connection being eected by blocks 21, which blocks are permanently secured tothe tape ends and are fitted between cars 22 of the shoe. The blocks are provided with tie-bolt `end shanlis which are ysecured to the ears vthat is fitted through the and adjacent to the 22 by suitable washers and bolts 237 lthe same being in spanner engagement with the ear edges whereby the belt may be drawn taut. 'The opposite feeder-hand shoe 14,' is similar in construction to thefist mentioned shoe but is ad'ustably secured to the belt' 20 by means 4o'fa permanently attached apertured block 24, which block is secured between one or the other set of ears 22 of the shoe 14 by means of a cotterpinl25 block aperture and corresponding apertures with which each set of ears is provided, `the said Cotter-pin being held in position by a snap-spring 26, one of which is carried by 'each set of earsas'best shown in Fig. 13. It should be understood that the feeder-hands 14 are extended in opposite directionsfrom the belt stretches and when forward movement is imparted to the working feeder-hand its idle companion upon the-opposite belt stretch is caused to travel through its connection with the belt to a point iii alinement with the first cutting member 10, at which point itis rotated coincident: to a corresponding reverse 'rotation of the opposite feederY-handfthesame being at this time at the end of its working stroke discharge end of the receiving tray. l,

Intermittent feeding movement is imparted to each vfeeder-handby a vibratory rack bar 27 that is arranged `parallel to *the feeder-hand runway, teeth of the rack being adapted to engage spring-controlled pawls 2S, one of which is pivoted to a web 29 of each feeder-handshoe and so positioned that when said feeder-hand has swung into actionthe nose of the pawl will aline with the rack-bar, whereby movement thereof will positively feeder-hand a'distance. equal to the width of` a cube unit, therack-barbeing then returned sothat in its neXt forward movement the preceding tooth thereof will act upon the pawl resulting' in a succession of step by step forward impulsesy of the working feeder-hand, ywhich impulses 'correspond in number to the number of cubes of'material that are to be fed. i

Motion is imparted-to the vibratory rackbar 27 by'a feeder-hand cam-wheel 30 as best shown in Fig. 1, which cam wheel is secured to a driven shaft 31 that is j ournaled in suitable bearings with which the frame bars v3 are provided. lVith each revolution of the shaft the cam-wheel 30 imparts oscillatory movement to a bell-crank lever 30,` having one arm that engages a camewheehwhile its opposite arm is'connected by a link 32 to the rack-bar 27, it being lunderstood that said rack-bar is suitably mounted in boxes 33 that project upwardly from the adjacent upper bars 2 of the frame. i

The means for simultaneously shifting the 'opposite feeder-hands opposite stretch o the" Iarrow in Fig. 5.` mutilated pinion will cause its clutch pawl 135 which is now seated in the notch '36 to carry the hub in its travel to the position the now registered hub notch 36. lner arm cam 41 will then assume cause forward travel of the `,position bridging 44 the same being' wrist-plate in and outfof workingy position at the end of their longitudinal travel, as best shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, comprise a mutilated pinion 34, the same being loosely mounted upon the spindle 1'?" of the head which forms one member of the double runway that serve as guides for the feeder-hands. An arm of the mutilated .pinion 34 carries a spring-controlled clutch-pawl 35,the nose of which is posi! tioned to engage one of a pair of oppositely disposed notches 36, 36, that are formed in the face of a hub 37, the hub being rigidly secured to the head spindle 17 adjacent to the mutilated pinion. 'A bracket 38 is se cured to the frame adjacent to the head 'spindle box-carrying bracket 18 and upon a stud 39 of the bracket 38 is loosely mounted a locking dog 40, the nose of which locking dog is normally seated in one of the hub notches 36, 36. `provided with a Spanner arm having an end `cani 41, which cam normally overlaps the 4disengaged notch of the hub. fthat the locking dog 40 is in engagement lwith the notch 36 of the hub as shown in The locking dog is also Prc-sumiiig Fig. 5, and is thereafter released, it is apparent that a half revolution of the hub 37 can be effected by oscillating the mutilated pinion` 34 in a direction indicated by the This movement of the shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Co-inci- ,dent to this movement a spring-controlled trip mechanism, to be hereinafter described, will cause the locking dog nose to drop into The spanits normal the open end of the notch 36 and in this alined position of the cam a spur 42 of the spring-controlled clutch pawl will engagevthe. face of the cam and engagement with the hub notch 36 and hence the entire runway together with the feederkhands will describe a semi-revolution about the yspindle axis, in which shifted position 'said mechanism is again held by the locking `dog due to the fact that the saine has now entered the opposite notch 36 of the hub. Positive rotation of the mutilated pinion 34 is effected through. its engagement with a toothed sector 34that is also journaled upon the 'bracket-stud 39 and is provided with a rollencarrying arm 42, which arm engages tlie slotted end 43 of a floating link provided withy adjustable tappet bolts to limit the movement of said sector arm. y i v Thev spring-controlled trip mechanism for releasing the locking dog 40 from the runway hub 37 comprises awrist-plate 45, which is pivotally secured to t-he 4thus 'lift the nose of the clutch pawl from bracket 38 by means of a stud 4.6 that extends from the wrist-plate. The wrist-plate Ll5 is connected by a tie-rod L.t7 to the locking dog, there being a coiled spring a8 that forms a tie connection between an arm of the wrist-plate and a crank-arm 110 of said locking dog. The wrist-pin stud 46 also carries a tappet finger a9, which finger is in the path of travel of a tappet lug 50 that projects from the slotted end i13 of the floating link.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the locking dog and wrist-plate are mounted upon spaced fixed points as shown and connected by a positive tie-rod together with a spring and hence the spring will exert force to draw the locking-dog crank-arm -10 and wrist-plate together, whereby the tie-rod connection between the wrist-plate and said locking-dog will exert constant spring force to hold the nose of this dog against the face of the hub. 1t follows that downward force applied to the floating link la will first impart motion to the .vrist-plate through the tappet ineinbers 49 and 50, whereby the locking mechanism of the feeder-hand runway will be released and a ,further downward n'iovement of said floating link will, through its engagement with arm l2 of the sector, cause rotation of the feeder-hand runway about its axis, it being understood that the tappet mechanism is so timed that release of the locking-dog from its position clear of the hub is not effected until said hub has been initially rotated, whereby its notch is moved out of alineinent with the nose of the locking-dog. After the spring-controlled runway lock and release mechanism has been actuated and the parts assume the position as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, with the clutch pawl 35 held free of the notched hub. lit is obvious that an upward movement of the floating link le will simply cause the same to engage the sector arin 4:2 and reverse direction of rotation of the clutch pawl and its pinion 34, the nose of which pawl will now initially ride over the cam-face 41, whereby the head notch 86 is bridged and the pawl is returned to its seat in the notch 36', there being no movement of the lockingdog in the recovery stroke of the mechanism, due to the fact that the tappet members carried by the wrist-plate and floating lever will yield co-incident to upward engagement thereof. The floating link and shift movement of the feeder-hand runway is brought into operation once only in a cycle of the other operations of the machine or after each slab has been completely disposed of, the time of operation being determined by the number of cube units into which the slab is divided.

The shift movement of the feeder-hands is controlled by a combined feeder-hand forces the slab of material to be cut trip and follower strip actuating cam-wheel 51,. which cam-wheel for simplicity in construction `is formed integral with a spotterfoot cam-wheel 52 that actuates a bell-crank lever 53, the same being linked to a crosshead 54.-, which cross-head is slidably mount-- ed upon a guide-rod 55 that extends outwardly from one end of the bed-plate 5. The cross-head 511 extends upwardly through an end-slot in the table 6 and carries the shank-pin 56of a backing bracket 57, w iich bracket is secured to the slidable spotterfoot 13. It is apparent that by timing of the cani-wheels 51 and 52, preceding each forward movement of the follower strip, the spotter-foot moves transversely and against the gage-strip 12', whereby said slab is alined to receive divisional cuts as it is forced through the vline of cutting strands 10.

` The forward and return movement of the follower strip is effected by arms 5S that are carried by a longitudinally arranged rocker shaft 59 which is journaled in suitable bearings extending from the frame, the upper ends of the arms being connected to the follower vstrip 11 by links 5S. The rockershaft 59 also carries a crank-arm 60 as best shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 4f., which crank-arm is linked to a lever 61 that carries a roller for engagement with the feeder-hand and follower strip actuating cain-wheel 51. The end of the crank-arm 6() is also connected to the lower end of the floating link 4A which actuates the feeder-hand shift mechanism,

vthe upper slotted end of the floating lever being guided through its roller connection with the segment arm 4t2. Hence it follows lthat when the cam-wheel 51 is positioned relative to the lever 61 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,that the follower strip is in its extreme forward position. In

this position the shift mechanism assumes the position shown in Fig. 2, having previously released the locking dog el() through the trip mechanism and reversed the position of the feeder-hands, whereby feederhand as indicated in Fig. 2, has swung from an idle to its working position, feederhand marked ',1/ being at the end of its feed stroke and is shifted to an idle position. The feeder-hand a: is thus alinedwith the first or trimmer cutter 10 and in abutting engagement with the now cut slab of material which is resting upon the receiving tray 7 of the table, it being understood, by reference to Fig. 3, that shift of an idle feeder-hand to working position takes place beyond the end of said receiving tray. Each cube of the severed slab of material is successively pushed over .the discharge end of the receiving tray 7 into a separator A, the saine comprising a rectangular metallic skeleton frame having a solid bottom 62 and rear- `When the separator 't' of the rear end of wardlydisposed rest bars 63, against which a cube of material abuts when the same is' forced into the open throat of said receiver, the separator being in its normal position of restas shown inv Fig. l o-f the drawings.

isin the above referredy to position its bottom 62 registers with and forms a continuation of thezreceiving tray and` is supportedin this positionv by .for-A wardly extended togglelinks 64V that have fixed pivofed pins 64 .vhich are carried by cars of brackets 65 that are extended from the bed-plate The free ends of the toggle links are pivotally connected with the lower front corner of the skeleton frame adjacent to its'floor line and the upper corner of the l separator frame is hinged toand between a pair of elbow levers 66, which elbow levers m turn are secured to a cross-rod 67 that 1s journaled in the bed-plate brackets y65. One

of the elbow levers 66 carries -a pitman-rod 68 that is alsohinged to one arm of a bellg crank lever 69, the opposite arm of said bell*- crank lever being provided with a roller that engages a separator actuating cam-wheel 70. This cam-wheel 470 is,.for convenience in construction, shown integral with the rackbar actuating cam-wheel 30 as clearly shown in Figs.v l and 9. of the drawings. 4

F rom the foregoing description it is apparent that owing to the timed relation between the rack-bar actuating cam-wheel `30 and separator actuating ca mwwheel 7 0 that with each discharge of a vcube of material into ythe separator, the rear end of said separator is initially depressed by action of the elbow lever 66, the same moving in an arc of a circle in the direction as indicated by the arrow Fig. 1l. l This initial depression the separator is caused through a rocking movement upon its fulcrum points with reference to the toggle links 6ft, there being no appreciable movenient of said links, dueto the factthat the load of the separator is sustained bv its suspension fromV the elbow levers. Thus the cube of material is separated from the succeeduu@` cube by swing of lt-he separated cube upon an imaginary point at the baise of the cut, the separation takingplacefrom top to bottom in an ope Tation similar to an opening jaw movement, whereby a clean break is effected, it being understood thatlin practice even though the cubes havev been severed, more or less adhesion therebetween takes place due to the forward impact of the row of cubes in a feed movement. VContinued movement of the forward actuating separator levers 66 inthe same direction causes the toggle links to describe a semi.- circular lifting` movement about their fixed axis and the separator carried thereby will make a half turn about its toggle link aXis, coming to rest in an inverted position after auch planetary movement, whereby the cube contained therein is` deposited bottomside `up into an L-shaped receiver 7l that is now positioned between the rest-bars 63 of the separator frame.v Thereafter forward movement 1s imparted Ato thereceiver, .whereby its back member will strip the cube from the separator through which it passes and de- `diagram view Fig. 12, for

the planetary movement imparted .to the separator will, serve also to permit the same to ride over and clear the receiver, which would otherwise be at rest in its path of ltravel should said separator be moved outwardly upon an even plane. Prior to a separating' operation of the cubes from the tray-carried group and just after a cube has been seated within the separator box a presser-foot` 73V is, with Vdelicate nicety, :caused to engage the succeeding cube, whereby the latter. is held firmly during said separating operation. The` presserfoot 73 is `carriedl bya vibratory lever 74, vwhich lever is pivoted to the adjacent bridge standard 8 and is connected bya pitman rod 75 to a spring pressed lever 76, the latter having :one endy in engagement with a presser-foot cam-.wheel 77 that is rigidly secured to the drive-shaft 3l, whereby said presser-foot is actuated in timed relation following each forwardmovement of the feeder-hands. As yshown inthe diagram view Fig. 12 the receiver 7l delivers `the print or. cube of material over aV well a of a wrapping machine such, Vfor example, as disclosed in the patents hereinbe ore mentioned. Thiswrapping mechanism is provided with a crank-driven walking-beam whereby motion is transmittedto the` oscillatory receiver 71, `the crank-shaft b of which machine is in gear connection with the. cutting and separating machine. The receiver 71 deposits the cube between a yielding grippingwall c and the side-wall' of a 110 plunger-headd, whereby the cube is held in suspension in alinement with the Welland a wrapping blank e thereunder, which blank is vfed over the mouth of the well by a suitable feed mechanism. Thereafter theplung'er head .1.15

is forced downwardly through th'ewell t0- gether with thel cube of material and wrapper blank, whereby the latter is suitably folded ,about said cube. The means for folding such wrappers forms no part of our'in- 120 vention and is fully disclosed in the above referredto patents.

The ten and twelve ratio` of rotation of the cams relative to the driven shaft 3l `and various cams is obtained through a gear'- train comprising'a pinion 78v that'is fast uponthe driven shaft and adapted to intermesh with av second interchangeable pinion 7 9, which pinion is loosely mounted upon a stud carried by a manually shiftable arm journaled in a suitable bearing-hub extending from one of the frame bars 3. lvleshingl ywith the idle pinion 7 9 is a gear-wheel 82, the same being secured to one end of they arbor 81, and the opposite end of said arbor j carries a pinion 83, which, m turn, 1s meshed with a gear-wheel S11 that is secured to one 'end of a sleeve S5, the latter being loosely vmounted upon the driven shaft 31 and is secured to the` cam-wheels 51 and 52. These cam-wheels thus rotate at a reduced speed relative to the driven shaft but in the same direction the latter. Hence it is apparent that the speed of the cam-wheels 51 and 52 can be increased with relation to the speed of the driven shaft by substituting a slightly larger pinion for the pinion 78, whereby a reduction in the number of cubes of material to be cut is provided for in the timing of the cutting' mechanism relative to the cube feeding mechanism. It follows that the shiftable arm 8O must be slightly raised and locked in such raised position when a larger pinion is required. This is effected by a locking bolt SG, which locking bolt is shifted to the registered apertures S7, 87, that are formed in a web of the frame bar member 3, the said apertures corresponding to a. similar set in which the` locking bolt is shown in Fig. 19 of the drawings for holding` the arm and its idle pinion in mesh with the driven pinion.` The driven shaft, as best sho-wnin Figs. 4 and 19, receives its motion in this instance from` an endless chain belt 88, which belt engages a sprocketwheel S9 lon the shaft anda corresponding sprocket-wheel 90 that is mounted upon the wrapping machine crank-shaft Z), it being understood that said crank-shaft is driven by a motor or other suitable means.

As shown in Fie. 3, the follower strip is provided with a detachable end section 11 whichis removed when the capacity of the machine is restricted toa ten cube cutter, it being apparent that the scope of the adjustment of all of the parts may be varied as conditions may require.

7e claim:

1. A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising` a series of alined fixed cutters, a Slab-engaging follower arranged to one side of the cutters, actuating 'means for the follower 4whereby a slab of material is fed ythroughthe series of cutters to divide the same into cubes, a sepa ator disposed adjacent to one end of theline of cutters yand upon that side opposite the follower, and an intermittently movable `cube feeder arranged transversely of the cutters in alinement with the separator.

Q'. A lslab-cutting and separating` machine comprising a series of equally spacedali'ned fixed cutters, a slab-engaging follower strip arranged to one side of the cutters, actuating means for the follower strip whereby a slab ofmaterial is fed through the series of cutters to divide the same into cubes, a separator disposed adjacent to one end of the line of cutters and upon that side opposite the follower strip, a cube feeder arranged transver ely of the cutter in alinement with the separator, an intermittent feed mechanism for the cube feeder.

3. A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a series of alinedfixed cutters, a slab-engaging follower arranged to one side of the cutters, actuating means for the follower whereby a slab of material is fed through the se ies of cutters to divide the same into cubes, a rocking separator disposed adjacent to one end of the line of cutters and upon that side opposite the follower, and an intermittently movable cube feeder arranged transversely of the cutters in alinement with the separator.

4. A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a tabl@ adapted to receive a slab of material to be cut, a series of alined fixed cutters extending above the table, means for feeding the slab of material through the cutters whereby it is divided into sections, means for feeding the group of separated slab sections longitudinally of the line of cutters intermittently at distances equal to the width of the separated slab sections, a separator arranged to receive the forward slab section of the series, and actuating means for the separator whereby the slab contained therein is broken from the succeeding slab.

5. A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a. series of alined fixedcutters, a slab-engagingfollower strip arranged to one side of the cutters, actuating means for the follower strip, a separator disposed adjacent to one end of the line of cutters and upon that side opposite the follower' strip, actuating means for the separator, a feeder arranged transversely of the cutters in alinement with the separator, intermittent actuating means for the feeder, and a correlated gear connection between the follower actuating means, separator actuating means and feeder actuating means.

6. Aslab-cutting and separating machine comprising a series of alined fixed cutters, a slab-engaging follower arranged to one side of the cutters, actuating means for the follower whereby a slab of material is fed through they series of cutters to divide the same into cubes, avsepa-rator disposed adjacent to one end of the line of cutters and upon that side opposite the follower, aninterinittently movable, cube-feeder arranged transversely of the cutters in alinement with the separator, and a movable receiver arranged to receive the separated cubes.

the table, a slab-engaging follower strip ar- 7. A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a series of alined fixed. cutters, a slab-engaging follower arranged to one side of the cutters, actuating means for the follower lwhereby a slab of material is fed through the series of cutters to divide the sain@J into cubes, a gage-strip arranged in juxtaposition to one end of the follower, a cam-controlled spotterarranged at the opposite-*end of the follower, alseparator disposed adjacent tonne end of the line of cutters and upon that side opposite the follower, and an intermittently movable cube feeder arranged transversely of the cutters in alinement with the separator.

" 8J A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a tableJ a series of alined cutters ext-ending above thetable, a slab engaging follower strip slidably mounted upon said table to one side of the cutters lwhereby a slab of material is fed throughv the series of cutters and divided into cubes, a separator disposed adjacent to one end of the table upon'that side of the cutters opposite the follower strip, and a feeder-hand arranged to travel parallel with the cutters and in alinement with the separator.

W9. A slab-cutting and separating machine `comprising a table, a series of alined cutters extending above the table, a slab engaging follower strip slidably mounted upon said table to one side of the cutters whereby a slab of material is fed through the series of cutters and divided into cubes, a separator disposed adjacent Vt'oone end of the table upon that side of the cutters opposite the' follower strip, an intermittently movable feeder-hand arranged to travel parallel with -the cutters in alinement with the separator,

an actuating cam in link connection with theseparator, an actuating cam in link connection with the intermittent feeder-hand mechanism, means for driving said cams at a uniform speed in the same direction, a cam in link connection with the follower strip, `and means for driving the cani in the same direction and at a lower speed than the first mentioned cams.

'10. A slab-cutting andt separating ma.- chine comprising a table, a series of equally spaced alined fixed cutters extending above ranged to one side of the cutters, cani-controlled actuating means for the follower strip' whereby a slab of material is continuj ously fed through the series of-cutters and divided into cubes. a cam actuated separator disposed adjacent to one end of the line of,` cutters and upon that side 4opposite the follower strip, a rotatory runway arranged parallel with said line of cutters, feeder-hands slidably mounted thereon, and a cam-controlled intermittent feed mechanism for the feeder-hands. -1 Y Y 119A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a series of alined fixed cutters, a receiving tray disposed upon one side of the line of cutters and parallel thereto, a. follower disposed upon the opposite side of the line of cutters arranged to feed a slab of material. through said cutters whereby it is divided into cubes that are deposited upon the receiving tray, a rotatory runway arranged parallel with the receiving tray, an endless belt carried thereby, feederhands carried by the belt, means for imparting intermittent movement to one of the feeder-hands whereby the latter is moved step by step longitudinally of the receiving tray, and means for rotating the runway incidental toa complete step by step movement of the feeder-hands.

l2. A yslab-cutting and separating machine comprising a series of equally spaced alined fixed cutters, a slab-engaging follower strip arranged to one side of the cutters, actuating means for the follower strip whereby a slab of material is fed through the series of cutters and divided into cubes, a receiver disposed adjacent to one end of the line of cutters and upon that side opposite the follower strip` and an intermittently movable cube-feeder in alinement with the receiver.

13. A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a table having a receiving extension, aseries of alined lixed cutters extending above the table, a slab-engaging follower monnted upon thetable, actuating means for the follower strip whereby a slab of material is fed through the series of cutters and divided into cubes, a rocking separator disposed adjacent to one end of the receiving tray, a cam-controlled actuating mechanism therefor, a rotatory runway disposed parallel with said receiving tray, an enc less belt carried thereby, a. series of feeder-hands mounted upon the runway adapted to travel upon the receiving tray, means connecting the feeder-hands and belt. meansfor releasing and locking the runway against rotation, cam-controlled actuating means for the runway lock and release mechanism, 'and a vibratory feed-bar for the feeder-hands.

' 14. A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a series of fixed cutters, a slab-engaging follower, actuating means therefor whereby a slab of material is fed through theseries of cutters and divided into cubes, a receivingl tray arranged parallel with the line of cutters upon that side 'opposite the follower, a rotatory runway arranged parallel with the receiving tray, means for rotating the runway, cam-controlled lock and release means in connection with the runway rotating means, feederhands mounted upon the runway extending in opposite directions, a belt carried by said runway, means for adjustably locking the feeder-hands to the belt, and intermittent feed mechanism for the belt-carried feederhands.

15. A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a series of alined fixed cutters, a slab-engaging follower strip arranged to one side of the cutters, actuating means for the follower strip whereby a slab of material is fed through the series of cutters and divided into cubes, cam-actuated levers disposed adjacent to one end of the line of cutters and upon that side opposite the follower strip, a rectangular' separator having its upper end pivoted to the levers, fulcrumed links having their free ends secured to the lower portion of the rectangular separator, means for feeding the' divided cubes into the separator, and a reciprocative receiver arranged to receive individual cubes from the separator.

16. A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising` a line of cutters, means for feeding rectangular slabs through the cutters whereby they are divided into cubes, a receiving tray for the severed cubes, means engaging the last cube of the severed series, whereby said series is fed forward, intermittent actuating means for the cube-engaging means, an open mouthed separator arranged to normally rest against one end of the tray whereby cubes are fed therein, a receiver in alinement with the separator, and means for effecting a planetary movement of the separator whereby the same is inverted and its contents discharged into the receiver.

17. A slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a frame, a table mounted thereon having a tray extension, a series of equally spaced alined cutters extending` upwardly hrough the table, a follower strip, a rockshaft in link connection with the follower strip, cam-controlled actuating means `for the rock-shaft, a gage-strip arranged in juxtaposition to one end of the follower strip, a cam-controlled spotter-foot in juxtaposition to the opposite end of the follower i strip, a double track runway arranged p arallel with the receiving tray table section, spindles extending from the runway, journals for the spindles carried by the frame, feeder wings mounted upon the runway tracks and extending in opposite directions adapted to engage the receiving tray, means for imparting reciprocative motion to one of the feeder-hands, an endless belt carried by the runway connecting said feeder-hands, a notched hub secured to one of the runway spindles, a pinion loosely mounted upon the said spindle, a pawl carried by the pinion engageable with the hub notches, a cam actuated toothed sector engageable with the pinion, a spring-controlled lock and release dog engager-ble with the hub notches, and a tappet mechanism for controlling said lock and release dog.

1S. 41n a slab-cutting andl separating machine having a series of alined fixed cutters, means for feeding slabs to the fixed cutters, and means for separating the cut slabs; the combination of a slab feed mechanism for the separator comprising a rotatory runway having a spindle extension, feeder-hands mounted upon the runway extending in opposite directions,rmeans for imparting intermittent movement to one of the .feederhands, an endless belt carried by the runway connecting the feeder-hands, clutch members carried by the runway spindle, means for effecting clutching engagement between the clutch members whereby the runway is given a partial rotation, and means for locking the runway after each partial rotation.

19. 1n a slab-cutting and separating machine having a series of cutters, means for feeding slabs through the cutters whereby they are divided into cubes, a receiving tray for the cubes, and a separator arranged to receive the cubes at one end of the tray; the combination of a double track rotatory runway mounted parallel withthe tray, a shoe in slidable union with each runway, feederhands eXtending from the shoes in opposite directions adapted to engage the receiving tray, whereby the slabs are fed to the separator, an endless belt carried by the .runway, means connecting the respective feedere hand shoes with opposite stretches of the belt, pawls carried by the shoes, a rack-bar disposed in the line of travel of that feederhand shoe which is in engagement with the receiving tray, means for imparting vibratory movement to the rack-bar whereby said shoe is moved intermittently throughout the length of the receiving tray while the opposite shoe is idly moving to a starting point, and means for rotating the runway co-incident to a completion of a feed stroke of its feeder-hands whereby the previous idle feeder-hand is brought into working position.

Q0. A slab-cutting and separating niachine comprising a table, a series of alined xed cutters extending above the table, a slab-engaging follower strip arranged to one `side of the critters, actuating means for the follower strip whereby a slab of material is fed through the series of cutters and divided into cubes, a rocking separator disposed adjacent to one line of cutters and upon that side opposite the follower strip, actuating means therefor, a cube-feeder arranged transversely of the cutters in line with the separator, intermittent actuating means therefor, means for shifting the cube-feeder incidental to the completion of -a working movement thereof, a spotter-foot disposed adjacent to one edge of the follower strip, actuating means therefor, a presser-foot arranged to engage the cubes forwardly of the separator, actuating means therefor, a

feed member extending from each drive-shaft, cams carried by the shaft for imparting movement to separator and intermittent feed mechanism of the cube-feeder, a mounted upon the driven shaft ing movement to the follower strip, spotterfoot and'cube feeder shifting means, and a back gear train connecting the driven shaft and said pair of. cams whereby the latter are rotated at a reduced speed relative to the speed of said shaft. A

`2l. A v'slab-cutting and separating machine comprising a line of spaced cutting members, means for feeding strips of material thereto -upon one side 'of the cutting members, a receiving tray upon 4the opposite side thereof, a pair of oppositely disposed feeder-hands in belt connection, the same being at a distance apart equal to the distance between the first and last cutting member, means for alternately swinging the feeder-hands into a working position with relation to the receiving tray, and means for for impartvcausing travel of that feeder-hand which is 1n working position intermittently at distances equal to the distance between said cutting members.

22. A cutting machine of the character described comprising a line of cutting members, an intermittently rotatable belt of greater length than the distance between the first and last cutting member arranged to travel parallel with said cutting members, a

the belt, and an intermittent actuating feed mechanism for one of the belt stretches.

In a machine of the character set forth. the combination of a table, a slabfeeding follower, to sever la slab into prints,A a print-series runway disposed adjacent one edge of said table and a little below the table level, and

means kfor moving the series of. prints along said runway. Y

24. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a table equippedl yat one edge portion with a guide, asuitably actuated slab-positioning member arranged.

opposite said guide,.`a slab-feeding follower aving one end adjacent said guide, a' series of slab-cutting devices adapted vto sever'the slab into prints, a means for intermittently moving a series of prints along said runway.

5. 4In a machine of a table equipped at one edge portion with a guide, a suitably actuated slab-positioning member arranged opposite said guide, a slab-feeding follower aving one end adjacent said guide, a series of slab-cutting devices adapted to sever the slab into prints, a print-series runway, means for intermittently moving a series of prints along said runway, and a print-sepathe presser-foot,`

pair of cams loosely 'said follower and gaging member movable along said runway,

' forth,

stretch of alseries of cutters adapted print-series runway, and' of the character ,l set forth, the combination rating device adapted to receive the sematz'm and advance them singly.

'26. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a table, a printseries runway adjacent one edge thereof, a slab-followermovable" toward and laway from said runway, a series of cutters between said runway, a print-enprints means for lintermittently advancing said print-engaging member, and means for periodically actuating said slab-feeding follower. v

27. In a machine of the character `set the combination of a table, a printseries runway adjacent one edge thereof, a slab-feeding follower, a series of cutters interposed between thejfollowerand runway, a revoluble print-series feeding device adjacent to the runway, means for intermittently vactuating the print-feeding device, and periodically-operating means for simultaneously actuating said slab-feeding follower and turning said print-series feeding device.

28. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a table, a printseries runway at one edge thereof, a slabfeeding follower. a series of cutters disposed between said follower and said runway, a slab-positioning member movable at rightangles to the path of movement of said follower, a revoluble print-series feeding-device, means for intermittently actuating the same, 'and periodically-operating means serving to actuate said slab-positioning member and said slab-feeding follower and turn said print-series feeding-device.

In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a table. a. printseries runway at one edge thereof, a slabfeeding follower, a series of cutters disposed between said follower and said runway, a

'revoluble print series feedingdevice, a

shaft equipped with a cam serving to actuate said print-series feeding-device, a tubular shaft mounted on said first-named shaft, means for rotating said shafts at different rates of speed, and cam means on said tubular shaft serving to receive a slab of material, a Yseries of alined,

jxed cutters extending above the table,

means for feeding a slab of material through the cutters whereby it is divided into prints, means for advancing the row of prints intermittently parallel with said line of cutters, and a print-separator adapted to receive the advance print of the series and feed it forward individually.

In a machine of a table, a series of A periodically `acj ltuate said slab-feeding follower and turn .said print-series feeding-device.

of the ,character yset .tray and equipped` 32. In a machine of the character set.

forth, the combination of a table, a series of alined cutters extending above the same, a slab-feeding follower above said table, an intermittently movable feeder hand arranged to travel parallel with the cutters, a separator in alinement with the path of movement of said feeder-hand and adapted to receive the cubes as they are successively advanced thereto, an actuating-cam and means actuated thereby for actuating said separator, an actuating-cam and means actuated thereby for moving said feederhand intermittently, means for driving said cams at the same rate of speed, a cam serving to actuate said follower-strip, and means for driving said last-named cam at a slower speed than said first-mentioned cams.

33. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of an alined series ofI cutters a receiving-tray disposed at one side of said line of cutters and parallel thereto, a slab-feeding follower disposed at the opposite side of said alined cutters, a revoluble member adjacent the receivingwith an endless belt, feeder-hands carried by said belt, means for imparting intermittent vmovement to the feeder-hands, and means for turning said revoluble member `after a feeder-hand has traversed the length of said tray. i

34C. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination, of a series of cutters, slab-feeding means adapted to feed a slab 'through said cutter, whereby the slab is severed into prints, a print-series runway on the opposite side of said cutters, an independently-movable separator at one end of the print-series runway, a revoluble member parallel with the print-series runway, feeder-hands mounted on said revoluble member and adapted to travel in opposite directions along the same,

divide the same into cubes, a`

.ing` and locking said revoluble member, cam-controlled actuating means for said releasing and locking means, and actuating means for the feeder-hands. 35. In a machine ofthe character set forth, the combination of a series of cutters, slab-feeding `means adapted to feed a slab through said cutters and cause the same to be divided into cubes, a receiving-tray arranged parallel with the line of cutters on the side opposite the slab-feeding means, a revoluble member parallel with said tray, means for turning said revoluble member, cam-controlled loclr-and-release means in connection with said revoluble member, feeder-hands mounted on said revoluble member and extending in opposite directions, a belt carried by said runway, means for adjustably securing the feeder-hands to said belt, and intermittent feed-mechanism for the belt-connected feeder-hands.

36. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of slab-feeding means, a series of spaced cutters, a receiving-tray, a pair of belt-connected feederhands spaced apart a distance corresponding with the first and last cutting members, means for alternately swinging the feederhands into working position with relation to the receiving-tray, and means for imparting working movement to one feederhand and idle return movement to the other feeder-hand. 37. In a machine 'of the character set forth, the combination of a series of cutting devices, a periodically-positioned belt one portion of which is adapted to travel adjacent said cutting members, a feed member extending from each stretch of said belt, and intermittently-operating means serving to actuate said belt and the cutter-members carried thereby.

In testimony that we we have hereunto set our hands at Milwaukee inthe county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin in the presence of two witnesses.

EREnERrcR n. MERRELL. wrLLrAM E. BLACKBURN. i

Witnesses y N. E. OLrrrrAN'r,

claim the foregoing means for releasl M. E. DowNEr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of VIPs/tents,

i Washington, I). G. 

